The Litany
The Litany is the great song of ages containing
the traditions, codes and laws of the Garou. All Philodoxes are required
to learn it by heart, and most good Moon Dancers learn a significant portion
of it. The Fianna are the true masters of the Litany, and even their New
Moons know most of its intricacies - ideal for extricating themselves from
various situations, although in general the Garou do not have much patience
with burreaucratic finaglins (Shakespeare's quote: "Let's
kill all the lawyers," pretty much sums it up.).
The Litany is a complex and often intricate thing, but in practice
it is much simpler than the hours-long chants of the Half Moon would make
it appear. The Garou are a fairly straightforward folk; convuluted legal
maneuvers and technicalities are not acceptable to them. The Garou basically
know what will and will not be tolerated by their sept and tribe, and in
most cases a violator of the Litany is well aware of the consequences.
The following are the basic tenets of the Litany; there are many others,
some varying from tribe to tribe.
Garou shall not mate with Garou
Due to the deformities and occasional phychoses displayed of metis
offspring, Garou are forbidden to mate with each other, having instead
to find spouses from either human or wolf society. This is the great tragedy
of the Garou; countless Moon Dancer ballads tell tragic stories of two
Garou who fell in love, yet could not express their passion.
Reality: The number of metis children in tribes shows that
this law is no longer as inviolate as it once was - certainly not a capital
offence, though a source of great shame to the offenders and their lineage.
In recent years, with the wide spread abailability of birth control devices,
many younger Garou are ignoring this tradition altogether, which is an
endless source of consternation and shock among their elders.
Combat the Wyrm wherever it is found whenever
it breeds
The Garou's original purpose was to fight the Wyrm, and much of their
early history is comprised of battles between great Garou heroes and the
Wyrm. This tradition is paided at least lip service to by every Garou.
Reality: In recent ages, many Garou have forgotten or purposely
given up on their mission. The increasing political tension sin the society,
competition for living space, and general complexity (and attractiveness)
of the homid world has led to many Garou forgetting or simply ignoring
their main missin. Thus it is that the Wyrm coils in darkness, unseen and
unheard, waiting for the moment to strike.
Respect the territory of another
This portion of the Litany was changed in the last few centuries, as
humans sciety had spread to the point that urinating one's territorial
markings was impractical. Instead, any visitor or immigrant into an area
has to first ask permission by singing the Howl of Introduction, reciting
their name, tribe, totem and lineage.
Reality: The Glass Walkers and other urban tribes consider howling
in a public area uncouth and will accept a telephone call or fax stating
that a visitor is in their territory. Many younger Garou ignore this portion
of the Litany altogether as "fascist." ("It's a free country,
ain't it? I'll go where I damn well please!)
Accept an honorable surrender
The Garou, accepting the reality of freuent inter-Garou duels while
at the same time realizing that continual batles to the death would seriously
deplete their numbers, incorportated this particular element into the Litany.
In theory, a Garou may surrender to another Garou at any time by exposing
her throat; the winner of the duel is honor-bound to accept the surrender,and
the loser suffers no reduction in Renown, although the winner may certainly
gain Renown.
Reality: Certain tribes consider losing to be shameful, no matter
what the Litany says. Wendigo, Silver Fangs, Shadow Lords and especially
Get of Fenris lose status in their tribe by surrendering. Also, Get of
Fenris have been known not to accept a surrender, tearing the loser's throat
out when it is offered.
Submission to those above you in station
While Garou have a strong pack mentality, there are alwayts certain
troublesome ndividuals in any society. Thus the Garou implemented the system
of Renown and honor. They are not a dictatorial people by any means, but
within reason any simple request of a Garou of higher rak is to be obeyed
if it desn't harm or sham you or another Garou.
Reality: Many of the younger, and particularly homid Garou,
products of the Me Generation, scoff at the idea of kowtowing to a bunch
of blunt-fanged, mangy, crusty, old broken-down old alphas. The Bone Gnawers
all but ignore this section of the Litany and the Children of Gaia, Silent
Striders, and Stargazers place a great deal of emphasis on personal choice
in the matter of respect; however, the Silver Fangs and espcially the Shadow
Lords enforce this edict with an iron claw.
The first part of tke kill for the greatest
in station
A holdover from their wolf heritage, this portion of the Litany is
greatly in favor with the higher-ups in Garou society, and such tribes
as the Silver Fangs and Shadow Lords; it is grudgingly accepted by the
rest. The "kill" even applies to possessions of the slain - thus,
in theory, all the most powerful fetishes and the like may be held by the
Garou with the greatest Renown.
Reality: Very few packs allow one warrior to keep all the best
loot for herself all the time - regardless of her station in Garou society.
A Garou who tries too hard to enforce this law will be obeyed - but she
should be prepared to accept the consequences of her selfishness ("Us
held you in battle? But milady, you are such a mighty warrior, and
you have all the best fetishes! Surely you can defeat the nexus crawler
alone!").
You shall show respect for those below you
in station - all are of Gaia
Garou are ultimately pack-oriented beings, and while they realize that
not everyone can be equal, they believe that all things of Gaia have some
worth. Garou are utimately the world's protectors, after all, and it is
condsidered a noble idea to act much as the archetypal romantic knight.
Garou who display a great deal of noblesse oblige may gain Renown.
Reality: The Shadow Lords pay lip service at best to this tradition,
and would strike it from their Litany if they could. The Bone Gnawers cynically
jest that since no one is below them in station, they don't have to respect
anybody. Most tribal conclaves will ignore a younger Garou, heady with
the power of his half-wolf form, who thoughtlessly abuses or maims a 'lesser'
being, such as a deer or derelict.
The Veil shall not be lifted
This is perhaps the most inviolate portion of the Litany. There is
no "reality" here - Garou are aware that both the forces of the
Wyrm and the Inquisition hunt for them, and those who disobey this edict
die. In recent years, special teams of Garou exist for the sole purpose
of destroying the equipment of camera crews and scaring reporters.
Do not suffer thy people to tend thy sickness
in death
Originally a Garou who was injured or aged to the point that he was
a burden to the tribe was simply torn to pieces by his fellow Garou, but
as time went on it was considered to be more dignified simply to let the
Garou end his own life.
Reality: The Children of Gaia prefer to let their infirm stay
on at the caerns and die naturally. Many older or wounded Garou simply
go back to human society forever, particularly if they are of sufficient
Rank to avoid frenzy. e
The leader may be challanged at any time in
peace
Unlike the Kindred, Garou are not expected to slavishly obey their
leaders. In times of peace, when no immediate threat is pending, any Garou
may challenge another's decision or even his position. A duel of some sort
(see Duels) will usually be fought, with the winner successfully espousing
her point of view or claim to succession as appropriate.
Reality: If a leader is extremely tough and skilled, this law
might for all practical purposes not exist, as no one will be able to deafeat
the leader. Some unscrupulous packs of Garou have challenged a leader one
after the other, twisting the Litany for their own purposes by gradually
wearing down the leader until one of their number wins the leadership position.
Certain cunning leaders of the Bone Gnawers and Shadow Lords have simply
declared 'martial law' or a continuous alert for the Wyrm, thus ensuring
that it is always techinically wartime and thus against the Litany to disobey
the leader.
The leader shall not be challenged in time
of war
The practical Garou had to learn group and pack tactics against the
often enormous Wyrm creatures early on, and relized that one Garou's failure
to conduct herself properly in a battle could mean the destruction of the
entire pack. In battle, the word of the leader is immutable law. A Garou
who disobeys or even insolently questions a superior may be destroyed as
soon as it is safe to do so.
Reality: If it is evident that the leader is incompetent or
under a magical controal, the Half Moon jjudges will ignore the actions
of a subordinate whose disobedience saves the pack or tribe in question,
although any Renown said subordinate would have recieved is cancelled by
the violation of the Litany (sad, but true).
Ye shall take no action that causes a caern
to be violated
Like the violation of the Veil, this one is pretty straightfoward and
rigidly enforced. The caerns are the lifeblood of Gaia, and if they are
destroyed, the Garou will cease to exist. Even accidently leading an enemy
to a caern is often severly punished.
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Copyright © 1996 -
1997
Created by 
Wolf
Pack Inc, Friday, August 29, 1997
Most recent revision Tuesday, September 30, 1997